A look inside the new breathe yoga studio and boutique. (M. Rosenberry)

Congratulations to Carin Laniak and Ryan Barry on the grand reopening of their breathe yoga studio in the Webster Plaza on Ridge Road.

The studio had to close for two months earlier this year due to a sprinkler malfunction, but after substantial renovations, is now back and better than ever. Hundreds helped celebrate its return during breathe’s two-day Grand Reopening event Friday and Saturday, which featured free yoga classes, special offers, a ribbon cutting and Irish dancers.

Webster’s new breathe yoga studio is located at Webster Plaza (near the library), 980 Ridge Road. Call them at (585) 248-9070 ext. 2, email them at info@breatheyoga.com, or log onto their website, www.breatheyoga.com. You can also find them on Facebook at “breathe yoga” and on Instagram at “breathelivelifeinspired.”

A local Eagle Scout candidate is doing his part to see that everyone can have a bike if they want one, even if they can’t afford it.

Danny Gresens, a senior at Webster Thomas High School and a Scout with Webster Troop 108, has focused his Eagle Scout project on collecting bikes for R Community Bikesin Rochester.

R Community Bikes is a grassroots organization that collects and repairs bicycles for distribution, free of charge, to needy adults and children in the Rochester area.

Danny Gresens (provided photo)

Danny hopes to collect and repair as many bikes as he can, then donate them to R Community Bikes.

“I picked this project because I believe everyone should be able to have the freedom a bike provides,” Danny wrote. “It allows people to get to work or school, provides good exercise, and it can just be fun to ride. R Community Bikes is a great organization because it’s 100% volunteer run and the bikes are free to participants.”

If you have a bike you’re not using anymore, and would like to donate it to the cause, email Danny at dgresens@frontier.com, and he’ll arrange to pick it up. He’ll accept youth or adult bikes, in any condition.

Danny hopes to organize a benefit car wash later this summer and a repair day. Stay tuned for details about those.

This peaceful path through the woods is part of the new prayer garden. (M. Rosenberry)

After years of dreaming, Bethlehem Lutheran Churchon Plank Rd will hold a service of blessing and dedication for its recently completed Community Prayer Garden.

The garden was a natural outgrowth of the character and mission of this 150-year-old congregation. Founded by farmers, Bethlehem’s identity has always been strongly rooted in prayer and in their desire to serve others.

“I hope that community members will come to the garden to find God, to talk with God, and to leave in peace,” said member Sally Steinmiller. “I hope that it will be a place of solace and refuge for people who may not feel comfortable coming into a church.”

Despite Bethlehem’s initial enthusiasm to build a community prayer garden, the project was delayed for several years because of the wet and swampy conditions of the proposed site. It was only when landscaper Bruce Zaretsky, of Zaretsky and Associates, Inc., suggested building a boardwalk through that area, and filling it with shade- and water-loving plants, that the idea found new life.

Zaretsky got to work on the boardwalk. Members cleared some space, including a pathway through a nearby grove, which will eventually lead to a large walking labyrinth. One community member refinished a mailbox, shaping it like the church, where prayer requests can be deposited.

Once the boardwalk was completed in 2013, planting began. Members contributed a variety of plants – some purchased, some taken right out of members’ yards – and planted them to fill in the spaces around the boardwalk. In 2014, Will Dorfner of Scout Troop 113 completed benches around the boardwalk as his Eagle Scout project.

The final touch was seven plaques around the garden with short scripture verses, each reflecting the peace and prayerfulness Bethlehem hopes people will find in the garden.

The whole community is invited to the service of blessing and dedication on August 1, 10am (1767 Plank Rd). The garden will be open all hours for anyone who wants or needs to use it.

A church-shaped mailbox accepts prayer requests. (M. Rosenberry)

Members of the prayer garden committee enjoy a peaceful moment on the new boardwalk. (M. Rosenberry)

These kids are already well known in Rochester through their appearances at Barry’s Old School Irish, Sticky Lips, Lovin’ Cup, the Ontario Barn Festival, the Webster Folk Festival, the Rochester Irish Festival, and elsewhere. But they’ve also begun to make a name for themselves across the state, playing at venues including the Shannon Pub and Irish Center in Buffalo, Kitty Hoynes and Coleman’s in Syracuse, and the Niagara Celtic Festival.

Some of you may have also seen them featured on WROC-TV and WHEC-TV the weekend of St. Patrick’s Day.

Sarah and Sean call their take on Irish music “traditional with a twist,” which means you’ll hear some favorites, and some things you might not have heard before. Sarah plays keyboard and has a beautiful voice. Sean plays fiddle, mandolin, bodhran, tin whistle, cajon and sings a bit himself.

Many of you already know that the Sean half of Barry’s Crossing is my son. The rest of you might have deduced that from Sean’s last name. So I’m a little bit proud of these kids and hope they draw a large crowd, because they really are that good and I know it will be a great show. (And I don’t say that just because I’m Mom.)

I also hope they have a good show since they played their last gazebo performance during a steady rainstorm. If you were one of the half dozen people who toughed it out last year under umbrellas, we hope to see you Friday. I think you’ll have a much better time this year.

The concert takes place Friday night from 7-9 pm in the gazebo on North Avenue in the village. The village is kind of messed up with construction, but you’ll find plenty of parking in the community lot across the street. Bring a blanket and lawn chairs, and a cooler if you like. Then enjoy the beautiful weather and terrific music. I’ll probably be staffing the merchandise tent, so come by and say hi.

Webster's new breathe yoga studio is located in the library plaza, 980 Ridge Road. (M. Rosenberry)

Breathe in Webster is back.

After having to close its doors for two months due to a sprinkler malfunction, the breathe yoga studio in Webster Plaza on Ridge Road is back in business, and will celebrate with a Grand Reopening on Friday July 31 and Saturday August 1.

The studio returns even better and stronger than before. Now under new ownership by Carin Laniak and Ryan Barry — current owners of breathe in Greece — the studio has undergone substantial renovations. Carin and Ryan will be celebrating their reopening with a full schedule of free yoga classes and some outstanding special offers for classes designed for young and old, and beginner to advanced yoga practitioners.

On Friday, July 31, four open Power Vinyasa classes will be offered at 5:45 am, 9:15 am, 11 am and 4 pm. From 12:30 to 3:30 pm, community members are invited to attend a fashion show with live music and special tastings from the juice bar such as organic smoothies, organic juices and freshly prepared food. Webster Town Supervisor Ron Nesbitt and Mayor John Cahill will preside over the official ribbon cutting and toast at 5:30 pm, and the Drumcliffe Dancers will provide entertainment.

On Saturday August 1, free Power Vinyasa classes will be held at 7:30 am, 9 am, 10:30 am, noon and 2 pm, followed by a master class with breathe’s master teachers and assistants at 3:30 pm.

Webster’s new breathe yoga studio is located at Webster Plaza (near the library), 980 Ridge Road. Call them at (585) 248-9070 ext. 2, email them at info@breatheyoga.com, or log onto their website, www.breatheyoga.com. You can also find them on Facebook at “breathe yoga” and on Instagram at “breathelivelifeinspired.”

It’s beginning to look a lot like … well, a lot LESS like summer these days in Webster.

Just today as I was driving out by Baytowne Plaza, I saw a huge banner plastered across the old medical supply building west of Bay Road, heralding the imminent arrival of the Halloween store. At this point they’re just looking for employees and aren’t actually open yet, but still. It’s not even the end of July.

Santa was also in town last weekend. He and Mrs. Claus were very special visitors at the Joe Obbie Farmers Market during the market’s Christmas in July celebration. Fortunately they didn’t bring any real snow with them, only rain. And I always enjoy seeing these two jolly people, even if they do remind us that winter will be here before we know it.

Santa and Mrs. Claus made a special appearance last weekend at the Joe Obbie Farmers Market (M. Rosenberry)

I made a mistake in yesterday’s mailbag when I posted the date for the upcoming St. Rita Youth Group BBQ fundraiser. Here is the same post, but this time with the correct date:

Get your BBQ here!

The St. Rita youth group is hosting a chicken barbecue on Friday August 28, from 5-6:30 pm to raise funds for a trip to Indianapolis in November, where they will be attending the National Catholic Youth Conference at Lucas Oil stadium. As many as 22,000 teens from across the U.S. will attend this annual event.

The barbecue will be catered by Webster’s Shannon Miller, owner of Smokin’ Hot Chicks. Meals cost $10, and include a 1/4 BBQ chicken or a pulled pork sandwich, with Cajun corn and macaroni salad. Checks should be made out to St Rita Youth Group. To order, contact Diane Hecht at 350-6367.

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Jazz Fest patrons dance the Electric Slide. (provided photo)

If you were able to attend last weekend’s Webster Jazz Fest, you had a lot of company. By all accounts, the event was a rip-roaring success.

Robyn Whittaker, president of the Webster Business Improvement District, sent this follow-up:

This past Saturday was the Webster Business Improvement’s Jazz Fest and Main Street was certainly groovin’! While the morning started off with rain, the skies cleared and the street was set with tables and chairs and the new mobile stage was put up in no time thanks to Mike Seddon and his crew at Live Sound. People came close to an hour and a half early to claim their stake on the few tables that the BID provides for attendees and quickly the street began to fill in spite of the construction.

The Webster Alumni Jazz Band was first to take the stage and got the crowd primed up for the main act, Prime Time Funk. … Walter Chatman and the Joyful Noise Experience then took over and played their mix of funky jazz and had 50-60 people doing a groovy version of the Electric Slide. Fan favorites The Mambo Kings then took the stage and continued to get people up and dancing.

People enjoyed the local taste treats from The Coach, Hatters Pub, Prime Steakhouse, Barry’s Old School Irish, The Mad Hatter Tea Room, Brimont Bistro and Original Mac and Cheez and servers buzzed around the crowd getting patrons their drinks and food so they could sit and enjoy the sounds.

Hard Logic was the last to take the stage and kept the crowd up late and even the late rain storm didn’t stop some people from staying till the end and enjoying their music.

* * *

Robyn also wrote about the continuing success of the Webster Wine Walks.

The last Wine Walk was held on June 19, and attracted 500 people to the village of Webster. Two new features of this last walk made it one of the best yet: for starters, participants enjoyed music during the event, performed by the Mark Cassara Band, who were set up on The Coach Sports Bar patio.

Plus, June’s Wine Walk was dedicated to supporting Challenger Miracle Field, an adaptive field being planned in Webster which will provide opportunities for people with developmental and physical challenges to participate in a variety of sports and recreation activities. At the BID’s last meeting, its members were able to present a check to Miracle Field Chairperson Ron Kampff for $2,000 to support the cause.

Webster’s next Wine Walk will be held August 15 during Good Neighbor Days and is sponsored by Family First Credit Union. Tickets are available online by clicking here or cash sales only at Family First Credit Union 850 Ridge Rd in Webster.

I tell you…Go away for a few days, and the email boxes really fill up.

The folks at Henderson Ford in Webster are sponsoring a book drive to benefit City of Rochester School #52, Frank Fowler Dow Elementary. People are encouraged to donate new or gently used books, for children ages 6-12 (grades 1-6). The books can be dropped off through September 4 in one of four boxes located around the Henderson Ford dealership, 810 Ridge Road in Webster, or at one of these other locations throughout the Rochester area:

The goal is to fill a new Ford Focus with books, just in time for the new school year.

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Calling all 1973 Webster graduates!

The RL Thomas Class of ’73 is turning 60 this year (for the most part) and we are having a casual “Alive in ‘55 Summer Rendezvous” in Webster Park the afternoon of Sunday, August 16, at the Orchard Hill Shelter up by the tennis courts.

In the Class of ’72 or ’74 but know a bunch of ’73er’s? Come and say hello! NO COST. Shelter is reserved and some snacks will be there. BYO beverage and lawn chair. When the cops show up to proof us, make sure you give them your AARP card this time!

If you have any questions, contact Sarah Johnstone at sarahj55 @gmail.com.

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A local race in honor of a former Webster resident has gone national.

Nicholas Kapusniak is a former Webster resident who was attending school at the St. Louis College of Pharmacy. He was killed in a senseless act of violence on March 1, 2014 when a drive-by shooter fired into a group of college students. Friends of the family have organized a 5k run in his name, The Nick K 5K, to draw attention to the violence that is becoming commonplace in our schools and cities. A portion of the proceeds will go to Crime Stoppers in Rochester, and the remainder will help fund scholarships in his name at his Waukesha, WI high school and at The St. Louis School of Pharmacy.

The race will be held on Saturday August 8, beginning at 8:30 am at Webster Parks and Recreation, 1350 Chiyoda Drive. Walkers and runners can register at RaceWire.com. Cost is $25 and includes an event t-shirt.

The race is showing signs of growth after its inaugural year. Organizers have already secured more sponsorships and donations than last year’s 5K, and Nicholas’s fraternity brothers at St. Louis are now organizing a companion “Nick K 5K” that will be run in St. Louis on August 22. Any businesses that wish to be a sponsor are encouraged to email Nick-K5K@outlook.com. Company sponsorships begin at $50 which includes having the business name listed on the event website, the Facebook page, in the race program, and on signs at the event. Higher levels of sponsorship are available that include a listing on the official event t-shirt. Personal donations are also greatly appreciated.

For more information on this event, please contact the organizers at 585-265-3509, or visit our website at http://www.kappyskampaign.org.

* * *

Get your BBQ here!

The St. Rita youth group is hosting a chicken barbecue on August 25 to raise funds for a trip to Indianapolis in November, where they will be attending the National Catholic Youth Conference at Lucas Oil stadium. As many as 22,000 teens from across the U.S. will attend this annual event.

The barbecue will be catered by Webster’s Shannon Miller, owner of Smokin’ Hot Chicks. Meals cost $10, and include a 1/4 BBQ chicken or a pulled pork sandwich, with Cajun corn and macaroni salad. To order, contact Diane Hecht at 350-6367.

* * *

Sean Rosenberry and Sarah King of Barry's Crossing perform last January at Apple Country Spirits' Wassail Party (M. Rosenberry)

Mark your calendars for this Friday evening at 7 pm, when Barry’s Crossing takes the stage at the gazebo in Webster as part of the village’s regular Friday night concert series.

This Webster-based “traditional with a twist” Irish duo features Sarah King on vocals and keyboard and Sean Rosenberry (yes, that’s my son) on fiddle, mandolin, tin whistle, bodhran, and several other things. These kids are well known locally from their performances at Barry’s Old School Irish, the Webster Folk Festival, the Ontario Barn Festival, the Rochester Irish Festival and many other local venues. But they’ve also making a name for themselves across the state, having performed at several venues and festivals in Buffalo, Syracuse, Oswego and elsewhere. Check them out online by clicking here.

The two-hour concert begins at 7 pm at the gazebo on North Ave. There’s plenty of free parking across the street and in the municipal lots next to Gazebo Park. Bring your cooler packed with your favorite beverages and snacks, a blanket or lawn chairs, and all your friends.

You think the village is a mess now? Wait ’til next week. Starting Monday, living on South Ave. and traveling down Main Street will both be difficult propositions.

On Monday morning, the NYS DOT will pour the new curbing along the east side of South Ave between Scott’s Funeral Home and Clover Drive. That means that driveways along the east side of South Ave. where the new curbing is installed will not be accessible until the end of the week.

I have to wonder what that means for the fire house.

After the curbs are installed, work will continue on South Ave., which will include replacing the driveway aprons.

On Tuesday, the DOT plans to mill the surface on West Main Street and a small portion of East Main. The work will begin near Lapham Park and will proceed west to just past Barrett Drive.

That means one lane at a time will be closed, and the one open lane will be used for alternating one-way traffic. So on Tuesday (or until they finish this part of the project) you’ll want to avoid Main Street. Parking will not be allowed on this part of Main Street while they’re doing this, either.

I’m sure all this upheaval will make the village look nicer in the end, but one thing really worries me. So far, three village trees have been removed for this construction project. Already, the four corners area is looking much more bare, and while Mayor John Cahill assured me in an email that saving vegetation is a priority, I am very concerned about the remaining trees.

Our village trees are precious. During the day they provide shade and a sense of small-town charm and beauty. During the holidays, Jazz Fest and other evening events, their twinkling lights make the village that much more welcoming. We didn’t have a whole lot of trees to begin with, and now more of them are being removed.

“In those areas where we have room, we will be replacing them,” Mayor Cahill wrote. For the village’s benefit, I hope that happens, and that it happens very soon.

This tree in front of The Garage Sale Store is one of three that have already been removed due to the construction. (M. Rosenberry)

Santa and Mrs. Claus will visit the Joe Obbie Farmers Market on Saturday with goodies for the kids. (M. Rosenberry)

This coming weekend just keeps getting better.

I’m sure you already know about the Waterfront Art Festival which will take over North Ponds Park all day Saturday and Sunday, and the always-great Webster Jazz Fest that rolls into town Saturday. (If you haven’t heard about either of these, click the hyperlinks to read the blogs I wrote about them.)

But I recently learned about another fun event on Saturday which you’ll especially like if you have young children.

It’s Christmas in July at theJoe Obbie Farmers Market. The Farmers Market, of course, sets up every Saturday from 8:30 am to 1 pm in the parking lot of Towne Center plaza on Holt Road, in front of Old Navy. But this weekend (on Saturday July 25), the market will celebrate Christmas in July with Christmas carols, Christmas cookies and refreshments, a Christmas tree, and a performance of holiday favorites by the Webster Village Band.

But best of all, Santa and Mrs. Claus will be there.They’ll arrive by fire truck around 10 am and will have giveaways for the kids. I’m told there will even be some North Pole snow there, sure to bring back fond memories of last February for the rest of us.

It’s a great chance for you to pick up some fresh fruits and vegetables, and for your kids to get their Christmas requests in, well ahead of the rush.

So clear your calendar for a great weekend ahead — and remember that it all starts Friday evening with a performance by the Amanda Ashley Trio from 7 to 9 pm at the gazebo.

Missy Rosenberry, a graduate of Cornell University, spent many of her post-college years in radio, advertising and public relations. After taking most of the 1990s off to have her three children, she is now a full-time teaching assistant for the Webster school district, and a part-time karate instructor. She and husband Jack have lived in the Webster/Penfield area with the kids for 11 years. She'd like to use her blog to help others learn more about the Webster community.

Roderick Spratling is a husband and father of two who has lived in the community for over 18 years. Born and raised in Detroit, Spratling is a 1976 graduate of Michigan State University who earned a master’s degree in Manufacturing Management & Leadership from RIT in 2004. He’s a Purchasing Consultant in Global Purchasing for Xerox Corp., and he enjoys softball, bowling, photography, and traveling.